It has been announced today that Helen Sieger CEO of Kingsbridge Heights Rehabilitation and Care Center has been arrested by Attorney General Andrew Cuomo for failing to cover hundreds of employees with workers’ compensation. Here is the press release for your reading pleasure:

ATTORNEY GENERAL CUOMO ANNOUNCES ARREST OF NURSING HOME CEO FOR FAILING TO COVER HUNDREDS OF EMPLOYEES WITH WORKERS’ COMPENSATION

Today’s Arrest Marks First Prosecution Under New York State’s New Workers’ Compensation Law

NEW YORK, NY (August 7, 2008) – Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the arrest of the CEO of a Bronx nursing home who illegally failed to secure workers’ compensation insurance for hundreds of employees. Today’s arrest is the first in New York State under a new workers’ compensation law, which makes it a felony for employers to fail to have this insurance for their workers.

Helen Sieger, 55, President and CEO of the Kingsbridge Heights Care Center, was arrested for failing to have workers’ compensation coverage for over one year, from May 31, 2007 to June 26, 2008. The Kingsbridge Heights Care Center employs over 400 hundred orderlies, healthcare providers, nutrition and clerical staff, and other workers. The nursing home serves over 300 residents.

“Today’s arrest should send a strong message: Employers who think they can wait until they get caught before getting workers’ compensation insurance are in for a rude awakening. Any employer trying to cheat workers and the State by failing to have workers’ compensation insurance will be held accountable by my office,” said Attorney General Cuomo. “Providing protection for workers injured on the job is the law, and we all share the cost when employers ignore taking care of their employees.”

This is the first arrest made under New York’s new workers’ compensation law, which became effective on April 12, 2007. Under the new law, any employer of more than 5 people who fails to cover their employees through this insurance is committing a class “E” felony, punishable by up to four years in prison. Under the previous law, the crime was a misdemeanor.

When employees are injured on the job, but their employer does not have workers’ compensation, the New York State Workers’ Compensation Board covers their claim by using funds collected from all employers with workers’ compensation coverage. This then drives up the costs of the entire system. In the period during which Sieger’s business was not covered, six employees claimed injuries that went to the Workers’ Compensation Board.

On June 19, 2008, the New York State Workers’ Compensation Board issued a “stop work” order to take effect on June 30, 2008, due to Sieger’s failure to obtain workers’ compensation insurance. The “stop work” order would have involved the immediate closing of the nursing home and emergency removal of the patients. After being threatened with these actions, Sieger obtained workers’ compensation coverage on June 27, 2008. Like other types of insurance, however, workers’ compensation is not retroactive, and Sieger is accused of violating the law by neglecting to have this insurance.

New York State Workers’ Compensation Board Chair Zachary Weiss said, “When Kingsbridge Heights Rehabilitation Center failed to cover its employees for Workers Compensation benefits, it put their physical and fiscal health at risk. This charge serves as an example of the importance New York State places on employee protection and Workers’ Compensation.”

This is the latest in a series of actions by Attorney General Cuomo to protect workers. Last week, Cuomo secured the arrest and arraignment of two contractors who kept more than $500,000 in wages from 84 construction workers for work performed on public construction projects throughout New York City. Earlier this year Cuomo recovered over $1,000,000 for hundreds of Bronx construction workers who were shortchanged out of overtime pay.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Rachel Gold, and Investigators Brian Ford and Robin Womack, under the supervision of Deputy Attorney General for Social Justice James Rogers, in conjunction with Workers Compensation Board Investigator Jonathan Tisk.

The charges against the defendants are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The arrest is only one of several legal problems that Sieger faces. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is seeking a temporary injunction in federal court. On May 30, the Board filed charges against the nursing home. that said the nursing home failed to make payments to the workers’ benefit fund, conducted surveillance of union members and failed to abide by a contract agreed upon with the union. In a matter of days, a federal judge is expected to rule and Sieger could be forced to resume making payments to the workers health fund, among other measures. Refusal on her part could also result in her being jailed.

First let me just say that I am happy that someone has finally enforced the law, it seems like everyone has let Helen do whatever she wants to do and not face any reprimand for her actions. It has finally been brought to light that KHRCC is not so shiny after all.

Now I hope this also shines a bright light on the NLRB who is hopefully going to get an injunction on Monday August 11, 2008 to allow the 220+ workers to return to work.

It is also rumored that Jacob was forced to stay and not resign as originally reported here because of the facts brought to light today, we shall see how this all finally works itself out.

If you remember we posted back on June 27, 2008 about KHRCC having multiple lapses in workers compensation coverage, I wonder if there is some statute of limitation as to how far back they can prosecute for these lapses?

So now what do all the insiders have to say that their precious Helen has fallen from grace? Have an opinion use the comment box below and make yourself heard.

34 responses to “Breaking News: Helen Sieger has been arrested!”

MON DIEU.. IT HAS COME TRUE.. HELLen..WE TOLD YOU SO.. YOU HAVE NEVER WON A BATTLE WHEN FIPNA WAS INVOLVED..HA..HA..HA.. I TOLD YOU SHE WOULD GO .. THE PINK PANTHER IS NEVER WRONG.. ATTORNEY GENERAL ANDREW CUOMO.. YOU ARE FANTASTIQUE!! WHAT A WONDERFUL THING YOU HAVE DONE.. EVERY SINGLE PERSON WILL REMEMBER WHO BROUGHT THE HOUSE OF HELLen DOWN..YOU HAVE GOT MY VOTE FOR LIFE!!
un million de remerciements a million thank yous

HEY WHERE ARE ALL THE LOUD MOUTHS NOW ????? HEY MARTIN, WHERE ARE YOU ?? HEY NADINE, WHERE ARE YOU ?? HEY SCABS WHERE ARE YOU ?? HEY LITTLE BILL WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY NOW ?? BOY IT’S AWFUL QUIET………………YOU ALL HAD SO MUCH TO SAY……….WE TOLD YOU IT WOULD HAPPEN………WE TOLD YOU THEY WERE GOING TO ARREST HELLen………AND THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING….I WONDER WHO THEY WILL QUESTION NEXT ???? I HOPE THEY LOOK INTO MARTIN’S “CORRECTING” ALL THOSE MISTAKES EVERYBODY MADE………HE PUT IT IN BLACK AND WHITE HE ‘CORRECTED OTHER PEOPLES MISTAKES” SOUNDS LIKE FALSIFYING RECORDS TO ME ……..I THINK YOU’RE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF ‘RATS’ RUNNING FROM THE SINKING SHIP…..OH, HAPPY DAY….IT TOOK LONG ENOUGH, BUT THEN YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY “GOOD THINGS COME TO THOSE WHO WAIT” UP WITH FIPNA…….UP WITH THE UNION……..UP WITH THE UNION MEMBERS……..DOWN WITH HELLen……”THE MIGHTY LION HAS ROARED”…….

it feel good i hope they have enough hand cuff for the rest of them. our prayer didn’t go in vain, nothing beat a prayer.Helen u history i wish i could see ur face right now. MMMmm i wonder what the fat *#*$# Nadine and Martin have to say now,lets see who need a job now

TODAY.. AUDREY SMITH-CAMPBELL {RIP} AND DORKAL THENZIN {RIP} WERE DANCING IN HEAVEN……DID YOU NOT HEAR THE THUNDER AND SEE THE LIGHTNING….IT IS A DAY TO THANK GOD AND REJOICE THAT THEIR DEATHS WERE NOT IN VAIN.OH, SWEET VICTORY, HOW SWEET THE SOUND………HALLELUIAH……….

Ha Ha Ha, Little Bill you are one funny character. Don’t you realize that what allegedly has happened is a felony? Don’t you realize this is only the first of things to follow? I am sure you will see the light when the injunction is granted and all of the 1199 workers will be on the inside and you and your cronies will be finished.

I think it is funny that you spelled “HELEN” with two L’s, are you joining the Helen bashing band wagon as well? I’d be careful as she has been firing workers who cross the line, and no I don’t mean the picket line.

Yoohoo..wee willie wonka.. give it up already.. we know who you are.. nes pa?
Vous êtes si ennuyeux, vous gardez te dire même chose et plus vous sembler un wornout ventilées record. You are so boring,you keep saying te same thing over and over you sound like a wornout broken down record. I would give anything to see your face when the strikers all come back to work.But then, like all the other rats, you’ll scurry away too, absolutmont.

we build a jail ..the union members build a jail and lock …helen in …. told you fools .. she’s going down down down helen’s going down.. thought we were joking did’nt you . heheheheheheh helen has ran her last lap………All you BIG mouth fools this is to show and tell you all never MESS WITH 1199SEIU..FOR AS LONG AS IT TAKE…………….WE WILL GET YOU .. NUFF SAID…. WE ARE THE KICK ASS UNION

MAVIS FOREMAN….YOU HAVE CERTAINLY GOTTEN THAT ONE RIGHT….WE TOLD THEM….WE WARNED THEN.WE TOLD THEM AGAIN..WE WARNED THEM SOME MORE……HELLen THOUGHT SHE COULD BEAT THE UNION AND FIPNA…..BUT SHE WAS WRONG..EVERY BATTLE SHE HAD WITH FIPNA SHE LOST….AND THERE WAS NO WAY SHE WAS GOING TO BREAK THIS UNION…..SHE TRIED AND FAILED AND NOW SHE WILL SOON BE JAILED…….THE HOUSE OF HELLen IS NO MORE,IT HAS ALL TUMBLED DOWN INTO A PILE OF RUBBLE, FROM ONE PERSON’S MALICE AND AVARICE….NOW ALL THE RATS WILL BE SEEN SCURRYING AWAY FROM THE SINKING SHIP…..OBVIOUSLY, THE TWO BIGGEST RATS MARTINaka mrscab,you see me everyday,nakiba, MR.POOPY PANTS AND DEAR SISTER NADINE aka jman HAVE ALREADY SCURRIED AWAY. TOO BAD……SO SAD…..
THEY SHOULD ALL GO STRAIGHT TO HELLen……..</strong?

lol i just cant help myself from laughing every time i think of helen in jail i have to laugh………. omg guys you remember the cold freezing nights the windy cold days? the bright lights oh and dont forget the DOG oh the many many cops? and the good ole martin kissing the picture of helen saying” i love her” lol NADINE and her FINGER? and dont forget the SCABS telling us “go find you a job ” glory days are still coming guys… WHEN THE MEMEBERS BEGIN TO PRAY THEN THE LORD WILL HAVE HIS WAY HELEN SIEGER HAS GONE DOWN.. REST MY DEAR AUDREY WE THINK OF YOU DAILY…..

While HELLen was released on $150,000 bail…it’s just a matter of time. Of course, this was also the FIRST of the investigations. Now that the AG has come down harder than Thor’s hammer, let’s see how many more times the oppressor has to make bail!

Gods, it’s days like this I WISH I was an attorney! After all, HELLen always looses! Not much work involved there! Of course, unlike HELLens attorneys (and everyone else that provides this sorry excuse of a woman any service), I would require payment in full UP FRONT. :)

Helen Seiger I new this day was coming, Hope you find a girlfriend because you wont make it in hell. And thats where you belong, Today was A VICTORIUS day.You are cursed because you steal from the sick and elderly, and you cheat the workers out of thousand of dollars.you are nothing but a mackshafer,and a altacover, you yenta mashiga.Your a disgrace to your religion. Who ever you are Little Bill you need to shut up, Your the type that talk bull shit behind your computer, step outside with all that talk, We are a union that will bring you, or anyone that try to take us on (DOWN.). We are 1199 SEIU NEW YORK. Were bad and we know it, and you aint see nothing yet. We will be in court to see the the downfall of a crook No more designer clothes hello to prison blues, By the way did you hear she ask for kosher food lol lol lol . Mr Cuomo you have my vote

If I was the judge, and I found this naughty lady quilty of her crimes, I would sentence her to a million dollar fine, make her do community work, at Kingsbridge Heights Rehabiliation Center, and turn her over my knee, bare her bottom, and spank it blushingly red. I would repeat the process on a daily basis for a year.